"Hunger doesn't take a summer vacation," was a tagline to an email recently forwarded by Phyllis Gonzales, a local representative of the Department of Children and Families. The email shared the importance of the Summer Food Service Program federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. Imbedded in the email was a plea to share broadly the importance of the Summer Food Service Program known locally as Summer BreakSpot.

While this program is available to bridge the gap in nutrition during the summer months, few of the eligible children take advantage of this resource. Children and their parents often are unaware of resources available to help or they are discouraged by the thought that they will not qualify or that extensive eligibility paperwork and long waits will be required to receive help. None of that is true. Children 18 and younger simply need to show up at Summer BreakSpots to receive healthy food.

For a community plagued with high poverty, financial and social pressures are multiplied for families struggling to meet their children's basic needs. Proper nutrition is a substantial obstacle to the growth and learning that can help change the future for children in danger of repeating a cycle of generational poverty.

During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price meals through school lunch programs. This nutrition is essential to proper education. These meals are often a child's only reliable nutrition.

Teachers who struggle to help their students during the school year are often distraught to consider what happens when school lets out for the summer. Many of their students are at even greater risk of hunger or poor nutrition.

This year, they know that many will have the added stress that recent flooding has caused on families struggling with limited resources. Additionally, many neighbors and friends who generously support local nonprofit outreach to children are themselves impacted by personal losses created by this historic flooding.

Considering these challenges, it is vitally important that we let families know that there are resources available throughout the summer because of the Summer Food Service Program. The USDA sent postcards to every food stamp recipient telling them to call 2-1-1 if their children needed food over the summer months.

In June 2013 alone, 2-1-1 Northwest Florida referred 360 callers to 119 Summer BreakSpot sites stretched across the nine counties we serve locally for assistance. While that call volume reflects a great need in our area, it does not come close to the number of people we know need help with nutritional assistance.

Although many children qualify for this program, very few participate. In a regular month, our 2-1-1 information and referral specialists are busy referring an average of 250 callers to local resources for food. Before its temporary closure due to flood damage, Manna Food Pantries alone saw an average of 162 people a day.

If you consider the number of people who call 2-1-1 monthly, combine it with Manna's 4,860 served monthly and then add in the additional 516 who have called since the flood. It is clear that many local families will need this resource for their children.

In our community, we cannot allow children in need go without when there is this resource available. Considering the local losses due to flooding, it is even more essential that we encourage families to call 2-1-1 during the summer months to find out where their children can be helped.

With the added pressures on families and the loss of local resources, those 516 callers who are food insecure need your help. Survivors who are struggling to pile possessions curbside for garbage pickup are emotionally drained and financially strapped.

Please help us serve the most vulnerable by advocating for those in need. If you know a child who will go hungry after the school bell rings for summer vacation, please tell them or their parents to dial 2-1-1 to find the Summer BreakSpot closest to their home.

If you have been spared the devastation of local flooding or the trappings of poverty and want to help, United Way of Escambia County has launched a disaster assistance fund that is already being used to help our local neighbors and friends. You can contribute securely online at www.helpNWFL

recover.org or call United Way at 434-3157 to find out how you can help our community recover.

Andrea Krieger is the president and CEO of United Way of Escambia County.